Crank-case.



R. HUFP.

URANK CASE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG.7,19 11.

Patented Apr. 30, 1912.

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CRANK CASE* APPLIUATION FILED Amm, 19114 1,024,579. Patented A111130, 1912.

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UNITED STATES RUSSELL HUFF, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN,

PANY, 0F DETROIT, KICHIG'AN,

AssIGNoB To Pncxnnn moron. CAB cou- A ooneomrton or moment.

CRANE-CASE.

Speciication of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 30, 1912.

Application led August 7, 1911. Serial In. 642,712.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. Rcsu. Hm, a citizen ofthe United States, and resident of Detroit. count)- of 'ayne, Siate 0f Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Crank-Cases, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to engines and more particularly to the construction of the cnmk case therefor.

In the multi-cvlindered engine such as, for example, the four-cylindered hydro-carbon engine connnonly used on motor vehielost it is customary to divide the crank case imo two compartments which are adapted io contain oil. The motion of the crnnvks splashes the oil around in the inierior of the cnlnk case and lubricates the va rions hearings and wearing parts. In 'the case of nn engine used on a motor vehicle the level of the oil in the crank case is con stantly changing, due to changes. in grade in the road, as when the vehicle is ascending and descending hills.

In my prior application, Xo. 503,735, led July i. 1909, I disclosed means for equalizing the level of the oil in the compertinents of the crank aise and the presen! invention is :in4 improvement of that construction. In the above-mentioned prio! application I showed n duct formed in the crank case und rising to the level of the oil there and having open ends. The function of is duct is to equalize the level of the oil in ihe (wo compartments when the engine is level and to prevent the oil from tion-ing from one compartment to the .other when the engine is inclined. It has been found that with the o end as shown in that construction, oil will be splashed by the cninks into the higher end of the duct, when the vehicle is on ln incline, in such .nantities as to materially lessen 'the snpply in that compartment and interfere with the proper ubricui ion.

One of the objects of the present invention is to overcome th' disadvantage by f i eoviding suiiable covers for the ends of lrduct.

another obyecr. of the present invention is to form the ducLintegmlly with the bottom wall of the crank case and on the interior thereof so that the crank case will present a smooth exterior surface.

Other objects and the features of novelty will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which.

Figure 1'is a side elevation of a fourcylindered motor, the lower portion of the crank case being shown in mtion; Fig; 2 1s a tnmsverse section of the lower portion of the crank case on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

portion of the crank cn on the line of Fig. 1; Fig. -1 is a transverse section of the lower portion of the cmnk case on the line -l-L of Fig. 6; Fig. 5 is a top plnn view of the lower portion of the crank ease; Fig. 6 ls a side elevation of Fig. 5; Fig. T a.

the crank case and showing a modification of tn v invention; F ig. S is a view similar to Fig. showing the parts in the position assumed when the crank case inclined- Referring to the drawings, the motor is shown as comprising a crank case 10 having mounted thereon the cylinders 11. 12; 13 and 14, the cylinders being formed in as shown. The crunk shaft 15 is mounted in bearings 16 at the ends of the crank case. The crank case is provided with two compartments 1S and 19 by the parition 20. Along the interior of the bot.- tom cover is formed :t duct or passage `21 which has its ends np-tnrned. as shown at 2-2, and Z2. Arranged above the ends of the duct 21 are the inwardly projecting ledges 24 which serve as means to prevent oil from being splashed into the duct when either end thereof is elevated above the level 'of the oil. Below the ledges 24, openings 25 are provided for ctmnecting the interior of the duct with the compartments. As shown in Figs. if, 3 and 4. the ductA :21 di vides the lower portion of the crank case into two parts and, in order to equalize the level of the oil on the opposite sides-of the duct, passages' 26 are provided below the duct 21 and have communication with the interior of the crank case by means of open,- ngs 27- In order to provide means for draining oil from the crank case :in opening is formed in the lower side of the passage :26. This opening is normally closed by means of a p ug 2S. In order to drain oil from the i duct 21 an opening is formed therein at the i lowest point and this opening is normally longitudinal section of the lower portion of `Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the lower a bottom cover 1T which is divided into ledges 24 may be formed in any desired way but I prefer to form them by sawing through the wall of the duct 21 after the casting is made.

In the modification shown in Figs. 7 and 8 I have provided at the upper end of the duct 21, a cover 34 which is loosely mounted at its center'on a pivot 35, carried'by a lever 36. The lever 36 is in the form of a bell crank and is mounted on a pivot 37, extending transversely of 'the crank case. The lower end of the lever 36 is provided with a Weight 38 which is adapted to cause the lever 36 to have a pendulum motion as either end of the crank case is moved up and down relatively to the other. A stop 39, which is adapted to be engaged by the weight 38, is provided for the purpose of limiting the opening movement of the lever. In Fig. 7 the cover 34 is shown slightly raised from its seat and in Fig. 8 the cover is shown as closed against its seat.

It will be observed that in both of the above described constructions the oil will be prevented from splashing into the duct 21 whenever either end thereof is raised above the level of the oil and that when the crank case is in a level position the oil will be permitted to flow freely from onecompartment to the other in order to equalize the levels therein.

It is obvious that various changes in the form and construction of the features of this invention ma be made and I therefore do not Wish to he limited tothe precise constructions shown and described.

Having thus described my nvention,what I claim is:

1. ,In an engine, the combination with a crank case having a plurality of comparti ments, of a duct formed on the interior of the bottom wall of the crank case and communieating with said compartments, and one of said compartments having a duct connecting the portions thereof on opposite sides of said first mentioned duct.

Y2. In an engine the combination with a crank case having a plurality of compartments, of a longitudinally extending duct formed on the interior of the bottom Wall of the crank case and communicating with said compartments at their remote ends, and said compartments having ducts arranged transvcrsely of said first mentioned duct and connecting the portions of said compartments on the opposite sides of said first mentioned duct.

3. In an engine the combination with a crank case having a plurality of compartments, of a longitudinally extending duct formed on the interior of the bot-tom wall of compartments at their remote ends, and said compartments having ducts arranged transversely of and below said first mentioned duct and having communication with said I'irst mentioned duct.

4. In an engine, the combination with a crank case having a plurality of compart ments, of a longitudinally extending duct formed on the interior of the bottom Wall of the crank case and in communication with said compartments, and each of said compartments having a ductv arranged below said first mentioned duct and communicating with the compartment on the opposite sides of said first mentioned duct, and a drain opening in said second mentioned duct. Y

5, In an engine, the combination pf a crank case having a plurality of compart ments adapted to contain oil, of a passage extending longitudinally of said crank case and having openings communicating with said compartments at their remote ends and adaptedto equalize the level of theoilV in said compartments, and means adapted to prevent oil from being splashed into said openings when they are above the surface of the oil.

6. In an engine, the combination with a crank case having a plurality of compart ments adapted to contain oil, of a passage extending longitudinally of the crank case and having its end portions turned upwardly in the compartments and means overlyin the ends of said passage for preventing oi from being splashed thereinto when said ends are above the surface of the oil.

7. In an engine, the combination with a. crank case having a plurality of compartments adapted to contain oil, ofa ductex- `tending longitudinally of the crank CaSe and formed on the interior of the bottom wall thereof and having its end portions upturned along the remote 'end Walls of Said compartments, and covers arranged over the upturned ends of said duct.

8. In an engine, the combination With a crank case having a plurality of compartments adapted to contain oil, of a passage cpmmunicating with said compartments and adapted to equalize the oil therein, and automatically operating closures for the openings in said passage.

9. In an engine, the combination of a crank case having compartments adapted to contain oil and a passage connecting said compartments und adapted to equalize the the crank case and communicating with saidl compartments adjacent the walls of saidA oil therein, of a closure for the end ot said passage, and adapted to be opened and closed by changes in the relative levels of the ends of crank case.

10. In an engine, the combination of a crank case having compartments adapted to contain oil and a passage extending longi tudinally of the crank case and having its end portions upturned and opening into the compartments and arranged to equalize the oil 1n said compartments, and closures for the ends of said passage, each of which is adapted to automatically operate when elevated relatively to the other.

11. In an engine, the combination with a crank case having compartments adapted to contain oil, of a passage extending longitudinally of the crank case and having its end portions upturned and communicating With said compartments, and pivotally mounted closures for the ends of said passage.

12. The combination of a crank case having compartments, a passage connecting said compartments, and means for closing said passage and comprising a pendulum lever and a closure carried by said lever and adapted to be automatically operated thereby.

13. The combination of a crank case having compartments, a passage connectinr said compartments, means for closing said3 passage and comprising a pendulum lever and a closure loosely mounted on said lever and adapted to be automatically operated thereby, and 4a stop for limiting the opening movement of said lever.

i4. The combination of a crank case having compartments adapted to contain oil, a passage connecting said compartments and adapted to equalize the oil therein, and means for closing the openings into said passage and each comprising a pendulum lever adapted to swing longitudinally of the crank case, a closure loosely mounted on the upper arm of said lever, and a stop for lim iting the openinginovement of said lever.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

RUSSELL HUFF.

Witnesses:

W. H. FINcKaL, Jr., H B. VILLIAMS. 

